Search:soul

Oddball Japanese electro-fueled vocoder funk with occasional raps from the 80s, including unreleased material...
.
Japanese Electro original, Minoru Hoodoo Fushimi, self-released four albums. Two vinyl LPs and two CDs between 1985 and 1992. Melbourne`s Left Ear Records have selected twelve tracks, for a double vinyl retrospective. 10 tracks from Minoru`s four albums and a further two unreleased tracks from the archives.

Minoru set out to combine his love of all things Funk with traditional instruments and song from his homeland. He uses shamisen on Thanatopsis. Where Parliament`s Flashlight, George Clinton`s Atomic Dog, ride with Osamu Kitajima`s Masterless Samurai. Shakuhachi on Mizuko No Tamashii Hyakumademo. Nohdashi puts koto with a Jimmy Castor riff. All set to popping and locking beats.

Minoru`s vocals switch between raps about cellular metabolism and haemoglobin, Soul croon and vocoder. On Shinz-San he adds Metal guitar to vintage Sugarhill. And he goes crazy with his sampler. Scratching in cats, frogs, babies, laughter, giggles, traffic jams, failing ignitions, opera singers, and amorous sighs. Furarete mixes elephant roars and Go-Go. Creating unique avant grooves that share something with Tackhead`s ON-U Sound System, Savant`s tape experiments, and fellow countrymen EP-4.

co-compiled by Left Ear Records and Jerome Qpchan

The Cryovac machine operates independently to service the world with an original strain of techno. Our people are pioneers of their own sound and seasoned veterans of its' cause. This cause is the basis for our action and the motivation for our vinyl. Cryovac believes the vinyl format is the truest way to take in our music, and this is why we take great care to personally craft our own plates and photograph our own art. The Cryovac approach and stance make it a true oddity in a world of commodities, and we hope you realize, feel, and respect our work.

Andy Vaz is a rebel from the city of Cologne. He is a creator of techno labels that follow their own path and challenge the standard dogma. His version of the techno sound has gone from stark and funky minimalism to synth cascades and housey feels. Andy Vaz is the perfect choice to collaborate with Andy Garcia. Garcia's brand crunchy soul tech mixed with vocal nonsense is the yin to Vaz's yang. These like minds share a name, a spirit, and a drive to keep moving forward no matter the cost.

Darien Dean is a soul singer who needs no introductions. His last album, Departures' is already rocking the soul charts, thanks to his classic songwriting and live instrumentation,

we can say that this isn't just soul music, it's music that has a soul.
Someone is You' is defnitely one of the gems of this album, thanks to the amazing Avery Sunshine on vocals, this track is one of the hottest nu-soul single for the summer 2017!

2023 Back in stock!


Multi - instrumentalist with rare elegance, FKJ unveils its first album French Kiwi Juice, and invites us in his world.

Tribute to his idols, affirmation of musical maturity, FKJ goes from Jazz to Soul, with his electronic touch that makes his paw incomparable.

A warm, reassuring and sensual universe.

His children’s questions (Why are there boundaries), his joys (Blessed & Joy), his journeys (Go Back Home & Canggu), the Franco-New Zealander delivers himself in an intimate and profound album, with music as an universal language.

An opus to advise to enthusiasts, travelers, dreamers...

This June Session Victim return to Delusions Of Grandeur imprint with their third studio album. Listen To Your Heart is the result of a year of cross-continental scripting, started in their Hamburg studio and wrapped up stateside in San Francisco's Room G Studios where the duo had worked on their 2014 LP See You When You Get There. Here we present the second of three LP samplers containing four tracks each, cut nice and loud for the vinyl crew.
Shadows gets things rolling with a classic Session Victim housey groove, looped up pads and hooky spoken vocal samples. Filtered string stabs bring a warm and soulful edge whilst dub delay touches add a floaty element to get lost in. Next up we have Unchained which drops the bpm's for a widescreen, slo-mo jam clouded in a smokey haze with jazzy touches, recalling the halcyon days of Pork Recordings.
Flipping over we have a brand new LP version of previous single Up To Rise, another sublime slice of blissed-out house music with a wonderful organic and live sound palette. Echoing Rhodes licks join the lead guitar tune for a Balearic beauty which will be stuck in your head long after the sun sets. Closing this second sampler we have Over And Over, which winds things down somewhat for an inspired, bass-led roller.
An impeccable demonstration of retro-inspired yet forward thinking house and downtempo music, Listen To Your Heart sees Session Victim at the top of their game.

Detroit's Burden Bros have long been looked upon with immense respect within contemporary dance music. Having been in operation since 1990 with their 430 West imprint they have long encapsulated the forward thinking vibe of Detroit Techno with their output over the last 20+ years, gaining praise from their motor city peers as well as fans worldwide. Having had success in the mainstream and an enduring underground presence they are well versed in the art of music.

This double-pack 'Cymbolic' originally came out in 1995 and found favour with electronic music fans who sought a deeper edge in their music. It's all here, the trademark drum programming, the epic sense that all of the Burden Bros productions have within them. This is dancefloor music, music for DJ's to utilise, tools, but tools with the deepest soul imaginable. Listen to 'Terraforming' or 'The Symbiont' - perfect examples of driving, almost tribal-esque rhythms fused with strings, synth pads and human feeling. 'Cymbolic' is for you if you're a fan of Detroit Techno, but it's also for those who enjoy the deepest electronic sounds. That's not to say it isn't funky though, these tracks will decimate most dance-floors, and therein lies the secret. Essential release here, that classic 430 (mid) West flavour re-mastered, re-pressed and re-released in conjunction with the Burden Brothers / 430 West Records, Detroit USA

'an incredible, funked-out live show and production team with their own modern take on boogie, Philly soul, and NY disco.' - XLR8R The Possé are a new face to many people. The five piece run by Andrew Elston and Ross Ferraro is comprised of veterans from all over Australia's music scene. After a year of knuckling down in the studio and a string of sold out shows they've boiled down their favourite influences into an in-credible, raw, funked out live show and production team. Watch out for The Posse's debut EP, Our Thing, featuring contributions from Andrew Elston (Phy-sique/Toni Toni Lee/Catcall), Ross Ferraro & Jarrol Renaud (The Goods), Michael Di Francesco (Touch Sensitive/Van She) and NZ jazz keys prodigy Andrew Bruce.

Australian label Nightime Drama, run by Peter Fincher (aka Vibrio) and Shaun Franklin (aka Trebek) now serves up its second standout release of 2016. This four track affair comes hot on the heels of the last by Yoshihiro Arikawa, and is a second release on the label by Aussie live act, DJ and producer Trinity, with Steven Tang and Italian based Andee on the remix. Trinity has also released on OOC, Coincidence and Android Muziq and regularly performs all round Europe. His sound deep and cosmic, heady and hypnotic, as the fresh tracks here prove. Cascade Drive is seven minutes of direct and elastic house with spacey pads and driving drums carrying you through the cosmos. From the Earthmothern label and one half of RK's, Andee strips it back to a slick rubber kick drum then layers in a forceful acid line and icy hi hats to really get you under its spell. The longform groove is physical and cerebral in equal measure. The next original is Expansion, and again finds Trinity serving up a hi tech and soul infused deep techno sound that is lithe and liquid, smeared with great pads and truly timeless. Emphasis boss Steven Tang is the perfect man to remix given his style, and his version flips the cut into a more heavyweight and banging techno effort, but one that is just as littered with sci fi sounds, spaceship trails and intergalactic energies.

Modern Soul queen goes clubbing. Road tested on BIG dance floors, vinyl only

What if we took you back to your untroubled teenage days, when all seemed complicated and easy to reach at the same time That is exactly what Cassius managed to transpose in 15 Again: a carefree music, coloured by some deep songs; like an emancipated soul, but always tormented. The hit 'Toop Toop", sampled by Madonna or David Guetta, among others, and the intense 'La Notte' illustrate perfectly this state of mind of the youth. Pharrell Williams is present on the song 'Eye Water", a beautiful ode to our planet and its natural resources, and Cassius has got further exciting surprises for you. We're releasing their third album once again for this summer, a real shot of freshness to relieve you from the heat!

Repressed!

Less than a year old, the newly formed label Apollonia presents its debut album releaseInviting you on an imaginary journey in their Lotus Seven, a road trip back to '90s San Francisco takes Chris Carrier and Hector Moralez on a musical mission, stopping for hip hop style smokes, disco jams and soul-warming joints on the beach; this is an exploration through their colourful inspirations and rhythmic upbringing.

London centric debut album from Floating Points with a host of guest musicians and vocalists.
the label say " Sam Shepherd spent five years putting together Elaenia, juggling the production with his DJ commitments and his now-completed PhD in neuroscience.

The album takes its inspiration from classical, jazz, electronic music, soul and Brazilian music, much of which can be heard in Shepherd's DJ sets. There's a long list of contributors, with Tom Skinner and Leo Taylor (drums), Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne and Layla Rutherford (vocals), Susumu Mukai (bass), Alex Reeve (guitar), Qian Wu and Edward Benton (violins), Matthew Kettle (viola) and Joe Zeitlin (cello) all featuring. Shepherd also provides some of the vocals.

Shepherd's influence on the album extends to the cover art: he built his own harmonograph to create Elaenia's sleeve, using fibre optic cables that were connected to light sources and responded to bass drum hits and other sounds.

Aside from a couple of early excursions on R2 Records and Planet Mu, Shepherd's solo material has come out through Eglo Records, the label he co-runs with Alex Nut. Records like Vacuum, Shepherd's breakthrough release in 2009, and 2011's Shadows, which scored a five-star review on RA, have cemented his reputation as a classy, inventive producer. On top of that he's also released music from his Floating Points Ensemble project, and produced some of Fatima's 2014 album, Yellow Memories. "

Enough! Music´s 11th work is a especially release by our lovely Marc Miroir with a soulfood remix series from AMAM labelowner Alessio Mereu & Dakpa and Enough! Music head Danilo Schneider. Two wonderful tracks with the name "Skillz" and "Skusy" is the sound of our time. Turn the volume button loud- here comes Marc Miroir. The hypnotic groove, passion and the right sounds in the arrangement are the full craft in this ep.
Both remixes of the track " Skillz " from Danilo Schneider and Alessio Mereu & Dakpa are so excellent, powerful and in the right direction in to your heart.This EP reflects the spirit of good music. Enjoy!

Explores the brutalist machine house vein: Brodanse "Sleep Won't Come" (Audio Soul Project & Awoke remix), By Gordon Gartrelle "Aesthete", ASP & Awoke "We Come Together"

Limited Coloured Vinyl Pressing!
RAWAX WELCOMES PSYNOTE TO THE FAMILY!
4 TRACKS FULL OF ENERGY, MYSTIQUE AND SOUL.

Having been a fan of Reelow for, well, as long as we care to remember, we are really proud to present you his new outstanding EP on Cellaa Music. Now residing on Ibiza, Reelow has enjoyed yet another successful year. With the talent taking a back seat, its the music hogging the spotlight and rightly so. Two new Tracks and two massive Remixes that look to the past whilst sitting firmly in the present.

- Leave Me Alone' riding on massive percussion and a tough house beat, with this tough Drums and drunken, wubby Sounds it is running right through its core. Plenty of sonic details flesh out the languorous but slightly groove and you'd imagine this Track is to be the sort of many Artits will love.

- Your Crowd' is again about little tiny details and how they evolve with time. This one take you on a voyage of natural rhythms and big Drums. Developing from harmonic FX Sounds and a infectious groove, the track is full of surprises as it twists and turns into different sounds that come and go to take it further than the dancefloor.

The first of the remixes comes from the in form, Massimo Cassini. He team up with a hypnotic rework of - Leave Me Alone' that demonstrates just why he is one to keep a close eye on as he gears up on the production front. Massimo is delivering a muscular house bomb, carefully placed FXs and a nice and catchy line to make this a dancefloor mover.

Next we have Cellaa Music Co Founder Martin Heyder providing a soulful tech house surrogate to the original of - Your Crowd'. His remix has a deeper houseier twist with a smooth 303 pad sound and a concrete percussive arrangement to convey a fantastic production.

We'll meet you on the Dance Floor!!!

Cellaa Music are very happy to welcome our great friend Marc Faenger and Label Head Sven Jaeger back to the fold. This one - obviously called B2B Volume 1 features two artists, two universes, two different ways to approach the music theory to form a B2B Cellaa relationship.

Young, skilled and supremely talented, Marc Faenger, is an artist set for great things on the international scene. Marc´s - Nip' contains an infectious groove an elegant labyrinth of percussive dub textures and sinusoidal tones and fast shuffling hats. Deep, fresh and seductively satisfying, this tune was designed for the discerning dancefloor.

Sven Jaeger returns to Cellaa Music with his second release for his label. - Get The Fuck' is a track that immediately commands attention with it's rolling, rich bassline surrounded by punchy, organic drums that delivers a soothing atmosphere. The track is really powerful and works really well on all dance-floors. People love it!'

The first of the remixes comes from the in form, Reelow. His releases have been huge hits, ruling the DJ charts. Here he strips the oringinal of Marc Faenger to it's essential parts. The super dry kickdrum and percussion in combination with the deep subs together create Reelow´s own techno vision.

Next we have Dan Noel providing a soulful tech house surrogate to the original of Mr. Jaeger. His remix has a deeper twist with glittering sounds and a concrete percussive arrangement to convey a fantastic Remix.

NEW from RAZOR N TAPE - with re-edits of Madonna 'Into The Groove', plus Goldie Alexander's 1981 soul/funk cut 'Show You My Love' and Paula Abdul 'Opposites Attract'

GREEN VELVET MAKES HIS CIRCUS RECORDINGS DEBUT WITH BIGGER THAN PRINCE, HIS MOST TALKED ABOUT TRACK IN YEARS...

BIGGER THAN PRINCE WAS BORN OUT OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN LABEL BOSS YOUSEF AND GREEN VELVET WHEN BOTH PLAYED THE INDONESIAN LEG OF THE ANNUAL CIRCUS TOUR. THE IDEA OF THE CHICAGO LEGEND CONTRIBUTING A BRAND NEW TRACK FOR THE CIRCUS X // PART 1 COMPILATION WAS FLOATED AND SOON HE WAS JOINING NINE OTHER FRIENDS OF CIRCUS WHO WERE ALL TO FEATURE IN CELEBRATION OF TEN YEARS OF EVENTS.

'BIGGER THAN PRINCE' IS A CLASSIC GREEN VELVET VOCAL NUMBER AND SHARPER AND FRESHER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE HEARD THIS SUMMER. QUIRKY AND DRIVING, ITS SET TO BE ONE OF THE TRACKS OF THE SEASON.

TO BACK THE ORIGINAL, YOUSEF HAS DRAFTED IN MORE FRIENDS OF CIRCUS ON REMIX DUTIES, HOT SINCE 82 AND THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS...



DJ FEEDBACK



STEVE MAC - "LOVE THIS RECORD AND THE REMIXES... GREAT RELEASE!!"

TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS - "I LOVE THIS RECORD!!! I'LL PLAY THE ORIGINAL!"

MATTHIAS TANZMANN - "BOTH REMIXES REALLY ARE GREAT!! PERFECT FOR ME!"

LEE BURRIDGE - "IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ORIGINAL FOR THIS GREEN VELVET FAN!"

SINDEN - "ORIGINAL WINNING FOR ME!!!! CLASSIC GREENB VELVET... I LOVE IT!"

ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD - "WOW! I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY MORE. THAT COVERS MY ENJOYMENT MARTINEZ BROS. MAYBE MY FAV."

TIEFSCHWARZ (ALI) - "A GREAT GREAT RELEASE FROM GREEN VELVET. SUPPORT!"

AXEL BOMAN - "THIS IS SUCH A COOL TRACK... LOVE THE ORIGINAL FROM GREEN VELVET!"



DANNY HOWELLS - "MEGA PACKAGE... SUPERB ORIGINAL AND STUNNING REMIXES TOO... ALL GOOD!"

DEETRON - "REALLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL AND THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX AS WELL. I'LL BE PLAYING."

UNER - "THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX IS SUPERB!! <3"

DRUMS OF DEATH - "I LOVE THIS WHOLE PACKAGE... WILL PROBABLY PLAY THEM ALL ACTUALLY! "

SOUL CLAP - "PURE FUNK, STRAIGHT UP NASTY!! "

MOXIE - "BIG BIG TUNE!!"

RALPH LAWSON - "THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX IS BEST OF THE PACKAGE FOR ME. GONNA TRY IT OUT AND LET YOU KNOW."

ALEX WOLFENDEN - "CLASSIC GREEN VELVET TRACK WITH GREAT REMIXS! MARTINEZ BROS' THE ONE FOR ME, FULL SUPPORT."

ANNIE NIGHTINGALE - (BBC RADIO 1) - "HOT SINCE 82 SOUNDS QUITE HOT IN 2013!"

LARSE - (KLUBBING, WDR 1LIVE, GERMANY) - "I LIKE THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX. WELL DONE GUYS!"

WAIFS & STRAYS (AMOS) - "ALL TRACKS ARE KILLER! THE MARTINEZ BROS REMIX IS AMAZING...FULL SUPPORT."

LUKE SOLOMON - "I HATE TO SAY IT AS I AM SUCH A HUGE GV FAN...BUT MB'S MIX KIND OF TIPS IT FOR ME. SORRY CAJ."

&ME - "I DON'T LIKE IT, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

GERD - GREEN VELVET = BIGGER THAN PRINCE! LOVIN' THE LINNDRUM WINK... GREAT REMIXES TOO!"



ZDAR - "LOVE THIS TUNE!!! CURTIS IS THE BEST AND ALWAYS BE... VERY GOOD MARTINEZ BROS. MIX TOO! LOVE!"

DJ HELL - "AND ANOTHER BIG TUNE FROM THE NEW PRINCE OF DANCE MUSIC! THIS IS GREAT!"

TOM FINDLAY (GROOVE ARMADA) - "GREAT EP!! MASSIVE, SUPER FRESH! GREAT CHOICE OF REMIXES TOO, BOTH SMASH IT!"

SHADOW CHILD - "YES! THE HOT SINCE 82 REMIX SOUNDS DOPE!!! "

SKREAM - "SICK RECORD!! MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX IS MY FAV ON FIRST LISTEN."

JORIS VOORN - "WAHAAHA CLASSIC GREEN VELVET ATTITUDE! GREAT STUFF GUYS!!"

ALIX ALVAREZ - "GREAT PACKAGE. GREAT MIXES, ESP FROM MY GUYS TMB, BEING MY FAVORITE. GONNA TRY IT OUT THIS WEEKEND."

TAYO - "THE COOLEST MOFO OUT THERE. CLASSIC GREEN VELVET. SLEAZY "CONTROVERSY" STYLE BUSINESS. LOVE."

CATZ N DOGZ (VOITEK) - "FUCK!! YES PLEASE!!! THIS IS FANTASTIC... MARTINEZ BROS. MIX MY FAV TO PLAY ON FIRST LISTEN."

IAN POOLEY - "THE HOT SINCE 82 MIX IS WICKED!! I'LL BE PLAYING THIS OUT FOR SURE!"

JD TWITCH (OPTIMO) - "I REALLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL OF THIS!! SUPPORTING."

MARC ROMBOY - "GREAT SELECTION OF VERSIONS AND GREAT TO HAVE A NEW GREEN VELVET IN THE BOX! HS82 IS MY PICK TO PLAY OUT THOUGH!!!"

DIESEL (X-PRESS 2) - "THE ORIGINAL AND THE HOT SINCE 82 MIXES AT ARE THE BEST FOR ME. WE'LL BE PLAYING THESE!!"

COPYRIGHT (DEFECTED RADIO) - "HARD TO CHOOSE A FAV. WHAT A PACKAGE...LOVE THE BEATS ON THE MARTINEZ BROS MIX...KILLER!"

Veryyou Music kicks off with a catchy EP by SoloWg - Self Control is a soulful deep techhouse tune - haunting melody and crisp bassline. Remixes are coming from Nico Pusch (Droomshipp, Damm), Andlee (Karera Records) and Talul (Jeahmon!, Great Stuff).

the tale of the mythic pentaki mountain has been engraved on a two-sided circular piece of wax. the north face of the peak is steep, abrasive, and has been the subject of many legends in the region. it is said that whoever would manage to climb it would find a plateau, leading to a place called "the single source of truth". considered as the ultimate goal by both psychedelic gurus and database optimization corporations, and as an ideal retirement destination for a couple of lost souls in search for coherence and objectivity, the source diffuses endless loops of haunted voices, apparently sampled from a discarded call center, running low on power, encouraging listeners to shorten cycles, deliver requests and improve user experience. it is also said that anyone climbing from the south side would never reach the summit or find his way to the plateau, and would always end up on a lower altitude than where he started. this topographical anomaly is probably the reason why the south face of the pentaki has always been favorited by locals, with its sunny weather and its luxurious vegetation flourishing along the soft downward slope, leading to a slow and peaceful end.

Noir Music comes up again with a deep & funky piece from Kolombo (Azuli, Kittball, BluFin, SK Supreme) combined with a hot remix pack by Daniel Bortz (Suol, Be Chosen, Souvenir Music),
Downtown Party Network ( Eskimo, Loud East, Bear Funk) and Fusty Delights (Different, Wall Of Sound). Soulful Deep House Music as its best.

Kid Culture's sound can be described as electronic soulmusic with passion. He's one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from Amsterdam fertile scene. This EP contains 3 original groovy tracks plus a cool remix from Giomini (half of Abnormal Boyz) and Toolman (aka Francesco Grant) !!

Komm mit Musik presents Shemians Vinyl Debut. Soulfull & oldschoolish house music with a cool remix from Bastian Schuster (Off Recordings, Robsoul, Weplayminimal).

The debut vinyl release for Toronto’s hottest new 45s label, Baller Beats! BB-001 brings the perfect blend of dance floor ready cuts and drum-heavy, timeless soul. Suckaside breathes new life into a nostalgic Hip Hop classic with chunky breaks for the dance floor & DJ Goce revamps a highly underrated soul gem with his massive drums and larger than life sound. Don’t sleep on this limited first press!

Side A) Classic Hip Hop Bizness from the UK’s edit due, Suckaside. Retro vibes with punchy breaks and a loud press - Dance floor ready cut for your crates!

Side B) Goce does this OG soul sample justice in a big way! Massive drums, a huge string section, and the true original songwriter and vocal performance from a classic song. Later covered by a famous Motown group, this original recording didn't get it’s fair play... until now! An incredible tribute to the OG artist!

Pratt & Moody melden sich mit einer neuen 7"-Single auf Timmion Records zurück, auf der ,Hard Way To Live" und ,You Bring Me Joy" zu finden sind - zwei tiefgründige Soul-Stücke, die ihren Platz unter den wahren Pionieren des modernen Sweet-&-Beat-Soul-Revivals erneut untermauern. Geschrieben und aufgenommen zusammen mit Timmions bewährter Hausband Cold Diamond & Mink, setzt die Single eine Tradition fort, die schon immer die Grenze zwischen zeitgenössischem Songwriting und zeitloser Soul-Ästhetik verwischt hat. Die A-Seite, ,Hard Way To Live", zeigt Pratt & Moody ganz in ihrem Element der Beat-Balladen. Aufgebaut auf einem warmen, funkigen Fundament, schafft der Song ein Gleichgewicht zwischen emotionaler Tiefe und melodischer Leichtigkeit, während der Refrain in Crossover-Soul-Pop-Gefilde übergeht. Textlich setzt er sich mit den Narben des Lebens und der stillen Schwierigkeit auseinander, den Schmerz loszulassen, den sie verursachen - das Gefühl, weiterzulaufen, selbst wenn man das Letzte von dem, was man hatte, bereits aufgebraucht hat. Auf der B-Seite entfaltet sich ,You Bring Me Joy" wie eine langsam brennende David-Lynch-Szene; sein dramatischer Einlauf erinnert an Soundtrack-Soul, bevor er in einen von den Staple Singers der Stax-Ära inspirierten Refrain übergeht. Tremolo-getränkte Gitarrenlinien verweisen auf klassische Dark-Surf-Musik, während Emilia Siscos gospelartige Hintergrundstimme an Mavis Staples erinnert und den Track zu voller emotionaler Entfaltung bringt. Zusammen bieten diese beiden Songs einen lebendigen Vorgeschmack auf das kommende Album von Pratt & Moody - ein tieferes Eintauchen in gefühlvolles Storytelling, ihre bewährten Lowrider-Soul-Fähigkeiten und moderne Klarheit, das bald bei Timmion Records erscheinen wird.

Carlos Dafé (born October 25, 1947) is a singer and songwriter from Rio de Janeiro, recognised as one of the iconic voices of the Brazilian samba-soul era. Born into a family of musicians and trained at the conservatory, he rose to prominence in the 1970s alongside Tim Maia, Cassiano, and Hyldon, shaping the sound of Rio Noir with his warm baritone voice and soulful phrasing. His 1977 album, Pra Que Vou Recordar, became a cult classic among collectors and DJs worldwide, earning him the title of "Prince of Brazilian Soul." Still active today, Carlos Dafé remains an essential reference for artists exploring the boundaries between samba, soul, and MPB (Brazilian Popular Music). Released in 1977, Pra Que Vou Recordar reveals Carlos Dafé at the peak of his art, blending samba-soul, MPB, and the warm groove of the 1970s Rio de Janeiro scene. Surrounded by some of the city's finest musicians, Dafé showcases his baritone voice in deeply melodic arrangements and a series of songs that have become fan favourites. An album imbued with soul and elegance. The sound of BrazilianBlack music at its most sincere and timeless.

Hot Creations Spring 2026 Vinyl Sampler featuring four of the Hottest recent release on Hot Creations.

After a year in which Joe Rolét’s ‘No Hesitating’ on Hot Creations became one of the biggest tracks of 2025 earning a spot in Mixmag’s ‘30 Best Dancefloor Bangers of 2025’, UK favourite Max Dean’s own
interpretation give s whole new energy to the track. Max’s remix reframes it even further for maximum peak-time impact. The bassline is murkier, the cuts sharply, and the overall momentum makes it a powerful weapon for DJs looking to keep crowds moving. Next up is ‘Sweat’, a collaborative drop from in-demand rising talents Locky and Mad.Again, bringing together two distinct voices shaped by London’s underground. ‘Sweat’ is a monster of a track, delivering punchy, driving drums, weighty bass, and tightly coiled grooves designed for peak-time floors, it’s a collaboration that feels rooted, purposeful, and built for the club!

On the flip and L.P Rhythm delivers his 90s-driven house aesthetic with ‘Want Somebody’, leaning into the warmth and swing of the era he draws so much influence from, the production blends crisp percussion, squiggly acid basslines, and soulful vocal flashes into a sharp, club-focused flip of a ’90s house classic - built and re-purposed for packed rooms and late-night energy. Final track ‘Freaks’ from Joshwa, brings a hypnotic blend of infectious vocal chops, punchy percussion, and growling low-end heat built for late-night dancefloors. Another four track banger!

The highly respected Swiss producer Deetron steps up to Defected’s acclaimed House Masters series. Known for his deep, groove-driven approach to house and techno, his output has graced the likes of Rekids, Nu Groove, Running Back , Classic and Clone amongst others, earning acclaim for both his original productions and remixes.

This 2LP collection from Defected collates some of his finest productions and remixes to date showcasing his signature deep house sound. From his peak time club focused releases ’Starblazer’, ‘Runnin’ and his remix of Gerd’s ‘Palm Leaves’ to his remixes of Fred Everything, Wallflower and his own ‘I Cling’ highlighting his soulful and vocal-driven depth.

Featuring his most recent collaboration with Seth Troxler and remix of Todd Terje also on the compilation, House Masters Deetron underlines Deetron’s status as one of the scenes most prolific and finest producers.

Jess Sah Bi is well-known as half of the legendary duo Jess Sah Bi & Peter One who brought homegrown Country-Americana to the West African masses with their smash debut Our Garden Needs Its Flowers in the mid-1980s. Touring stadiums and reaching listeners worldwide, their music has racked up millions of spins on YouTube and remains imprinted in the hearts of Ivorians of a certain age. ATFA reissued their album in 2018, garnering critical acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and Rolling Stone and reaching a new generation of listeners outside Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire). Sometime in the early 90s, Die Sahbi - or Jesse, as he known to friends-became gravely ill with an unknown ailment and almost died. He visited various doctors and all kinds of religious healers and nothing helped. One day he went down to an Evangelical Christian revival in his neighborhood. They prayed over him and he was delivered. He says, "Their prayers helped chase out whatever demons and unhealthy spirits were inside me. After that my illness went away. When I went to the United States a few months later on an exchange program I wanted to make music to thank God because I was saved." He recorded an album of music praising God in order to honor a promise he made to himself at the depths of his desperation in the hospital. The album Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas Jesus Christ Does Not Let Us Down came out in 1991 and sold around 3000 cassettes in Ivory Coast. The master tape was lost along the way so the recording has never been on digital platforms until now. Jesse didn't have much time to record while visiting South Carolina, hence the relatively short album, 6 songs including two reprises for filler. A local pastor connected him with a studio and some American musicians (Robert Fortner and Gary Davis) to help. They added acoustic guitar, percussion and keyboard accompaniment to Jesse's soaring French and Gouro vocals, harmonica and finger-picked acoustic. The resulting recording is deeply soothing and contemplative music that perfectly compliments the songs already embraced by millions. But he had to find the rest of the studio expenses-$600 total-which he secured drawing cartoons for UNICEF. Jesse is Ivory Coast's first political cartoonist, a vocation for which he was widely celebrated at the time. It also made him a few enemies which lead to him leaving the country permanently a few years later. Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas is Jess Sah Bi's first and only gospel album. Fortunately, fans responded with enthusiasm: widespread radio airplay and concerts followed, along with a growing solo profile in the country. The first big gospel artists in Ivory Coast were the duo Mathieu et Constance, who emerged in 1989. There was a bigger gospel music movement in English-speaking counties like Ghana and Nigeria (Christians make up roughly 40% of the population in Ivory Coast, slightly less than Muslims). Jesse didn't have any intention of working in Christian music but he realized, "You don't make music to make money-you want to send a message." In the years since Jesus-Christ's release, gospel music in Ivory Coast has grown to become a key part of music culture in the country. Spiritual music appears in community actives across the public and private spectrum from religious gatherings and parties to television broadcasts and music festivals. And, as it has evolved and indigenized locally, gospel music has picked up elements of traditional Ivorian music, reggae and soul. The album ultimately precipitated the demise of the duo, who were soon separated geographically as Peter One relocated to Nashville. He went on to become a nurse and release a successful solo album on Verve following the ATFA collaboration. Nowadays Jesse lives in the Bay Area and continues to record and perform music wherever and whenever he has the chance. He is publishing a new book of humorous cartoons in 2025 and his most recent album Never Give Up came out in 2020

The Drop presents Based On A True Story - 21st Anniversary Edition. Honouring Chris (MU) Faiumu, aka Dj Fitchie. Manuia Lou Malaga. Mystic soul supernova, "Based On A True Story" aka BOATS is the debut studio album from Fat Freddy"s Drop unleashed in May 2005. The BOATS album features 10 fresh slices of future funk, with surprises, fakes & freaky sidesteps throughout. BOATS is Aotearoa"s longest-charting album with 111 weeks in the Top 40, won eight NZ Music Awards and took out Gilles Peterson"s Worldwide Music Awards in the UK. On debut in Aotearoa, the independent released BOATS debuted at #1 and went Gold on its first release day. The tracklist featured six completely new tracks, as well as reworked versions of previously released singles like "This Room", "Hope" & "Ernie" (also known as "Willow Tree"), alongside "Flashback".

Antônio Carlos & Jocafi, das legendäre Duo aus Bahia, dessen Musik seit über fünf Jahrzehnten den Soul Brasiliens verkörpert, kehrt mit einer kühnen neuen Zusammenarbeit zurück: Jazz Is Dead 026. Beto Barreto von Baiana System stellte Adrian Younge und Ali Shaheed Muhammad vor, und die Begegnung war sofort von Magie geprägt. ,Als wir uns zum ersten Mal trafen, war es wie bei einer Familie", erinnern sie sich. Diese Verbundenheit veranlasste Younge und Muhammad, das Duo nach Los Angeles einzuladen, wo sie eine Handvoll Ideen mitbrachten und vor Ort neue Songs schufen - ein intuitiver, improvisatorischer Prozess, der die Philosophie von Jazz Is Dead ausmacht. Mit dieser Veröffentlichung bekräftigen Antônio Carlos & Jocafi ihre kreative Vitalität und bringen gleichzeitig einer neuen Generation ihren zeitlosen bahianischen Geist näher. ,Adrians Liebe zu Brasilien ist größer als die vieler Brasilianer", sagen sie und betonen, wie aufmerksam er zuhört, studiert und die Rhythmen, Geschichten und Gefühle ihrer Kultur vermittelt. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das eine Brücke zwischen dem Mercado Modelo in Salvador und der globalen Bühne schlägt und die folkloristischen Traditionen Bahias mit der analogen Seele von Jazz Is Dead verwebt.

KIZZY is the breakthrough EP from rising East London artist Bel Cobain, one of the most distinctive new voices emerging from the UK alternative R&B and soul landscape. Written across 18 months of late-night ideas, scattered sessions, and quiet breakthroughs, the project captures an artist in motion. Following a string of singles that introduced her raw lyricism, KIZZY marks a confident step forward with intimate, sharp, and melodically rich songs that sit in the space between endings and new beginnings.

Across these six tracks, Bel moves with striking emotional honesty through a rich palette that encompasses rock’s bite, jazz’s looseness, R&B warmth, hip hop rhythm, folk intimacy, and fractured breaks. She blends conversational storytelling with her distinct smoky vocals, reflecting on change, learning to let go, and finding light in the aftermath. The EP invites the listener to listen closely to the cracks, the softness, and the pulse of the beauty that still rises when a chapter turns.

Bel Cobain is fast becoming known for her ability to connect deeply with audiences, pairing classic songwriting instincts with a contemporary sonic edge. Early support has come from tastemaker radio and press, with momentum building across streaming platforms as listeners discover her unique perspective on vulnerability and self-awareness. Released as Brownswood Recordings celebrates its 20th year, KIZZY continues the label’s tradition of championing the most singular artists.

Marking a significant milestone in her career, this release is Bel Cobain's first-ever record. It is presented as a Collector's Edition Limited Edition 1xLP gatefold vinyl, pressed on Terracotta colored wax. With short-form video campaigns, targeted digital marketing, radio support, and a growing live presence, this release positions Bel Cobain as one of the UK’s most compelling new artists for 2026.

Soul legend Gwen McCrae’s All This Love gets a fresh dancefloor reinterpretation from Tokapi Disco Team, the German production duo known for their work with million-selling act Sash!. Ben Liebrand adds his signature touch with extended groove-driven edits, crafted with DJs firmly in mind. Tokapi Disco Team blends a warm, rounded kick with subtle percussion and a light shuffle that keeps the rhythm flowing effortlessly. A rolling, funk-inflected bassline locks in with Chic-inspired piano chords, while tasteful disco strings lift the arrangement throughout. Gwen’s unmistakable vocal remains the emotional centerpiece — rich, soulful and timeless.

The result is a seamless nu-disco and disco-house crossover that bridges classic soul heritage with contemporary club energy.

THIS is Gwen—this is ESSENTIAL.

^°Michigander Music again sets the pace with another future classic, D Send to Asend, a powerful 4-track EP from Canada's Greg Gow and Detroit's Brian Kage. Rooted in Detroit techno at its finest hour, this release is strictly for the true heads combining Gow’s techno sensibilities and driving textures with Kage’s raw, soulful energy. Together, they break down borders and deliver a timeless, late-night sound that feels both refined and uncompromising.

2026 RSD Release - GREEN Vinyl

Mark Pritchard (Global Communication / Africa Hi-Tech / Reload / Harmonic 313) produced gem from 2004. Featuring Eska, Nina Miranda and other vocalists. TIP!

An expanded edition of a long out of print Far Out classic. This double vinyl edition will include the track 'Strikehard' for the first time, which was omitted from the original pressing, only released on a separate 12" and CD.

=========================================================

Far Out Recordings announces the Record Store Day 2026 deluxe double LP reissue of Troubleman’s Time Out of Mind. Originally released in 2004, the album marked a distinctive turn in Mark Pritchard’s expansive career, channeling his pioneering electronic instincts through a filter of Brazilian grooves, African rhythms, and global soul. This special edition includes the underground club classic “Strike Hard” (previously unavailable on the original vinyl), alongside the album’s flawless blend of early-noughties space-age bossa, broken beat, future soul, and psychedelic downtempo.

Under the Troubleman alias, Pritchard stretched his focus outward in every direction. From the UK rave continuum to Brazil, the US, Africa, and beyond, he drew on the psychedelic soul of Dorothy Ashby and David Axelrod, the Afrobeat drive of Fela Kuti and Tony Allen, and the samba-doido energy of Azymuth. Filtering golden-era seventies influences through early-2000s pop, club, and rave lenses, the album moves effortlessly between club-ready tracks like “Strike Hard,” and more laid-back, tripped-out moments that highlight Pritchard’s range, shifting seamlessly from dancefloor heat to outer-bongolian cloud watching.

Featuring vocal contributions from Nina Miranda (Smoke City, Da Lata), Steve Spacek (Spacek, !K7), and Eska (New Sector Movements), the record captures Pritchard at a pivotal moment, exploring how electronic production could absorb and expand the rhythmic complexity of global sounds.

One half of Global Communication and Jedi Knights with Tom Middleton, and Harmonic 313 with Dave Brinkworth, Pritchard has since built a dense, acclaimed discography across numerous aliases and labels. His work on Warp Records has included collaborations with Thom Yorke, and his remix portfolio spans Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, Underworld, Aphex Twin, Lamb, KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, The Orb, and The Beloved.

Remastered from the original sources and pressed to vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day 2026, this edition also faithfully reproduces the album’s psychedelic artwork by renowned British artist and designer Swifty.

After more than a year of road-testing and building anticipation on dance floors worldwide, this eagerly awaited 12" release has finally arrived. Championed heavily by producer and DJ Vick Lavender himself, and supported by legendary selector Joaquin Joe Claussell, demand for this record has reached a fever pitch. With requests pouring in and excitement growing by the day, label head Carl Dupri knew the time was right.

"Girl" manifests as a masterful musical composition, crafted in the distinct deep, soulful style that only Vick Lavender can deliver. Rich textures, warm grooves, and elevated arrangements create an immersive soundscape that speaks directly to the heart and the dance floor alike.

Topping it off is the stunning vocal performance from the incomparable Angel A., whose soulful delivery adds depth, emotion, and timeless elegance to the production.

Pressed and housed in a beautifully designed 12" artwork jacket, this release is the total package-music, message, and presentation. Judging by the overwhelming demand and DJ support, it's only a matter of time before this one disappears from shelves and crates.



Enjoy the Journey

The Rhythm Of Nature’ is the stunning new masterpiece from Andy Compton (The Rurals) and Shamrock!

Written between Andy’s tours in South Africa and Shamrock’s extended UK trip in the summer of 2025, this album embodies their shared mission: to spread positive, joyful vibrations with LOVE.

Here, Soul, Jazz, and African music blend seamlessly through the talents of these two cosmic brothers, connected deeply by their love of making music.

When Andy and Shamrock jam and record, music flows so freely, creating a powerful, spiritual energy.

This follow-up to their 2023 debut album, Soul & Spirit — which still touches hearts worldwide — includes magical songs like ‘Bunny Chow’ and ‘Rosa Mziki’, originally created in Johannesburg and previously released on the Bunny Chow EP, Along with super fresh, unheard gems.

The album also features incredible musicians such as Nekoye Ommeh (Vocals), Pete Morris (Keys), Bongani Sessionist (Percussion), Kafele Bandele (Trumpet), and Charlie Hearnshaw (Sax), adding their magical energies to the soundscape.

Allow yourself to experience the full journey, feel and enjoy every note!

Fresh from a run of must-check EPs on Syncrophone Recordings, Black Jazz Consortium man Fred Peterkin inaugurates a new label, Base. The New York-based producer appears to be the man at the helm, since his next scheduled release also appears on the freshly minited imprint. He begins with 'There & Back (Long Player)', a languid, mid-tempo chunk of string-laden deep house classiness, before opting for a breezier, dreamier and sunnier sound on the impeccable 'Something For The Road'. Peterkin's ability to fuse looseness, heaviness and subtly soul-flecked instrumentation comes to the fore on EP highlight 'Rhythm & Movement', while 'BTA10711 (4am Mix)' tiptoes the fine line between dubby deep house and spacey, far-sighted futurism.

The crew behind the freshly minted Secret Vault imprint are keeping their cards close to their chests, with the accompanying press release loosely explaining their desire to prioritise dancefloor "heat" over spoon-feeding information to buyers (and in this case, Juno reviewers). The secrecy makes sense, though, because these uncredited cuts are heavyweight disco edits - and fantastic ones at that. Our shadowy heroes first extend and (we think) lightly speed up a slap-bass-sporting slab of disco-soul gorgeousness full of dewy-eyed female lead vocals, extended breakdowns, glistening guitar solos and punchy. Over on the flip, our scalpel-wielding fiends turn their attention to a bouncy, energetic and infectious disco-funk gem topped off by expressive male lead vocals.

Enrico Fierro, known as Milord, a daytime engineer and researcher of human mind states during dreaming, has collaborated for years with Periodica Records and co-produced projects such as Danger Boys and Space Garage. In “Perfect Crime”, he presents a nostalgic vision of twilight synth-pop, capturing an urban landscape alive at night and in constant motion, blending street soul and echoes of classic house with textured synths, 808 patterns, and subtle new wave influences

Mysticisms’ Dubplate series reaches number 10 with the first in a series of specials, taking the genre blurring music of Persian and presenting updated remixes and versions by up-and-coming producers, as well as friends and family of the label.

Started as a sporadic offshoot of Mysticisms’ main releases, with the idea to highlight the wonderful sounds of dub influenced dance music, Dubplate has now become an integral part of the mission.

To start, South London’s Picasso joins the label, showcasing his declared abstract grooves and an EP of Dub and Tech House movers. While his productions aim for the dance floor, they are often characterized by complex rhythms and unconventional structures, prioritizing atmosphere and texture over traditional melodies.

Drawing inspiration from ambient, jazz, experimental influences and the heavy hand of dub, Sam “Andrews” McKay has crafted an EP of immersive “soundscapes”. Joining the legendary Persian (Peter Reilly) as co-selector, his retakes are all warped grooves, wide bass and dubby atmospherics.

Opening with Space Within Art, the street soul meets reggae rhythms are jettisoned, and a Dub House swing drives the track. The love, homage and vibration for Sound System culture remains, enchanting trippy reggae sampledelic vocals weaving in the brain.

Dunya 2 sees a shift, minds expanding. A jazz influenced breakbeat, harp, strings, building to a psychedelic swirl, driven by a dub bass in a clash, morph and glow.

The deep Digi Dub of D Dub Twist grows, warping the ‘JA riddim meets English hedonism’ in true Soundclash style. Touches of drone underlay, highlighting Sam’s experimental leaning, utilising Persian’s love of Eastern mystical samples to marry perfectly for a deep dub excursion.

The self-prescribed “odd-fellow” completes his versions, exploring his love of depth and abstract sound in closer, Jacob’s Dub. The warm roots vibrations in original form develop into a scatter gun House bumper. Dubwise, Lovers, Stepper, all merge around shuffling, trippy beats and skippy hats, Picasso’s groove is laid bare, driving the EP to finale.

Abstract the Mystery.

Selection of IKIGAI Album by Nadia Struiwigh. IKIGAI was born in the quiet space between grief and remembering... Made entirely on hardware, from my living room in Berlin near Hermannplatz (my dad's name is Herman -- the odds), in the months my father passed away. Every sound, every sequence, every texture carries his fingerprint. Not because he made music, but because he made me love gadgets. Circuits, signals, blinking lights. He was the man who opened me up to machines and taught me how, eventually, to listen to them and use them for my craft. The name IKIGAI, a Japanese word for ''reason for being,'' found me when I was at a crossroads. The kind where you ask yourself: Why am I still here? What am I still creating for? What part of me still believes in beauty when everything feels like it's falling apart? These pieces came through slowly, on Japanese gear like Yamaha SEQTRAK, KORG, Roland -- like threads weaving a tapestry I didn't know I was making. Each track is a kind of purge... to him, to myself, to the listeners who find themselves in the in-between. The space where you're not who you were, and not yet who you're becoming. I found myself back into soundscapes and Ambient with a touch of Electronica. I weaved in sounds I captured from daily life, memories -- like the laugh of my sister. I built in silence and let the machines cry for me and let them tell the story I couldn't find the words for. IKIGAI is spacious. It's not trying to impress anyone. It's trying to just be, and hold space for all kinds of emotions. It moves like memory... slow, sacred, shifting. This release needs to be close to home, and will be released on my own imprint Distorted Waves, on the day 11.11 -- which refers to my first album that my dad had hanging up in his shed. For my father. Nadia

James ‘ReKab’ Baker is a highly regarded British producer who made some of the finest tech-soul, electro & ‘Artificial Intelligence’ style electronic music of recent years. James sadly passed away August 2025 and has been a great loss to the community, his productions on labels such as Distant Worlds, Fourier Transmission, Yore, We’re Going Deep, Moatun 7, Magnonic Signals and Analog Concept were much loved by fans of this music worldwide and all sold out upon release.

Previously, his first 4 albums had only ever been available digitally, initially issued on the Icelandic label Moatun7 and are currently only available on Bandcamp. Now, for the first time, in association with UK electronic label System One, all 4 albums will be issued on vinyl as full length albums, fully remastered by Justin Drake & the digital versions will be once available again on all DSPs worldwide.

The first reissue in the series is ‘Analogue Isolation’, to be released March 27th. Written & recorded in 2020 through the Covid lockdown period, the album is a masterclass in pure home listening electronica. Blissful, emotive and melodic with crisp drums, gently pulsing basslines, lush pads and exquisite melodies, Analogue Isolation heralded the arrival of a truly talented producer who enchanted fans of the genre over the coming years

Analogue Isolation will be a limited initial run of 250 copies through all stores worldwide March 27. A pre-release stream is available on Soundcloud here. The subsequent albums will be released throughout the remainder of 2026 & will be accompanied in December by a strictly limited hardcase for collectors to house all 4 albums. Meanwhile, all 4 albums will be available on DSPs worldwide from March 27.

Over the past few years, Munich based polymath Lindsey Wang has risen to the forefront of the club scene under her Polygonia alias, creating a stream of spectacular releases where she tirelessly twists techno into a living, breathing ecosystem.

As she appears on Timedance for the first time, Polygonia sculpts a set of four immersive, pressure‐loaded club tracks where earthy psychedelia brushes up against precision‐engineered rhythm, inviting dancers into a zone that feels both ritualistic and sharply futuristic.

“Ceaseless Motion” draws on deep‐focus sound design, restless percussion and subtly warped harmonies, all threaded by a quietly hallucinatory sense of detail that really takes our breath away, and will surely bring the distinctive dancer to the very front of the bass bins.

LP Transparent Purple Vinyl in Picture Sleeve

The essential debut album from Chicago’s disco-funk pioneers, featuring the timeless “Free Man,” returns fully remastered from the tapes of Tom Moulton for RSD 2026. Produced by Philly soul legends Bunny Sigler and Bruce Hawes, this record bridges Chicago’s raw energy with Philly’s orchestral elegance. Essential for any collector serious about the roots of disco and dancefloor culture — an all-killer, no-filler LP that sounds fresher than ever today. Remastered and Redesigned labels and sleeve, Transparent Purple Vinyl.

Repress!

OUTTA SIGHT, in association with Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd., present two Modern Soul Monsters back-to-back.
JEFF PERRY (aka Jeffree) was born into rare soul royalty, the nephew of Robert Bateman, a pioneer of the Detroit sound, and brother of Greg Perry with whom he would co-write and produce for Holland/Dozier/Holland scoring hits for the Honey Cone, Chairman of the Board, Freda Payne and Jeff’s own group 100 Proof Aged In Soul.
“”Love Don’t Come No Stronger…” has transcended its Modern Soul status to become a mainstay of the 21st Century Northern Soul Weekender scene, an essential 45 for any discerning DJ wanting a guaranteed floor-filler.
MANDRILL were formed in New York in the late Sixties by the Wilson brothers, originally from Panama. They were joined over the years by a succession of accomplished musicians who honed their unique Latin-tinged sound that attracted, first Polydor, then United Artists and Arista, who signed them in 1977. “Too Late” was released in ’78 and helped define the “crossover” sound of the Northern Soul scene. It remains an anthemic and sought after 45 guaranteed to pack the floor.

When Harry met Barney it was a match made in heaven - that's Hary Balk and Barney Duke' Browner. The Duke had worked with Harry since the early sixties on other labels inlcuding American Arts where he wrote Walk On InTo My Heart' for Bobbie Smith. But he really hit his stride at Impact alongside Harry and John Rhys. Eventually the three would make the move to Motown but not before the Duke struck paydirt with his Northern Soul anthem Crying Over You' featured here in its orginal coupling, vocal/instrumental. It was the instrumental that first commanded the dance floor back in the days of the Golden Torch, but today the vocal is king. Whatever your preference we know you'll enjoy our offering couretsy of Harry Balk himself... the first legal reissue in years!

SALES POINTS:
All time Northern Soul Classic - Two fabulous sides
TV advertised and featured in the film Northern Soul

Each volume in this series dedicated to House influenced by Jazz has been a bestseller.
This volume was previously released only as a double CD, which was long out of print, and now, by popular demand, it has
been released for the first time as a double vinyl.
The sounds here explore not only Jazz but also Soul and Minimal.
All the tracks have never been released on vinyl except the first, a remix by LTJ Xperience, which has long been out of print.
Tracks by Don Carlos, J Boogie, Interanima, Riccicomoto, Guido Nemola, Belladonna, From P60, and Paolo Faz, among others,
are also included.

Dam Swindle tap Kerri Chandler, Louie Vega, Folamour, Cinthie & more on 100th Heist release.

The ‘House of House’ V/a takes in nineteen all-new tracks from some of house music’s most revered names and new-school talent.

Dam Swindle present ‘House of House’, a triple vinyl V/a compilation marking the one-hundredth release milestone on Heist Recordings, landing on 8th May 2026. Across nineteen all-new tracks, ‘House of House’ reads like a roll call of modern house royalty.
The compilation features contributions from scene legends and contemporary torchbearers alike, including Kerri Chandler, Two Soul Fusion (AKA Louie Vega & Josh Milan), Folamour, Cinthie, Kolter, DJ Sneak, and Supershy, the dance music alias of Tom Misch, alongside rising talents like Papa Nugs, Lolu Menayed, and many more.

From the old-school magic of tracks like Dam Swindle’s ‘Back to the Old School’ feat. DJ Minx and Kolter’s ‘Need U, Want U’, to the jazzy, soulful depths of Kerri Chandler’s ‘Kerriousity’ and Superhy’s ‘Pyrenees’, to the peak-time energy of Papa Nugs & Mixolydian’s ‘Let Go’ and Elisa Elisa’s ‘Coco Coco’, the compilation captures the full spectrum of house sounds that have shaped the world of Heist Recordings over the past 13 years.

Launched in 2013, Heist Recordings has become a high benchmark for quality house music – a home for legendary artists like Cinthie and DJ Sneak, and a breeding ground for new talent from Kassian to Make`z. Dam Swindle have cemented their place among the upper echelons of modern house, with three critically acclaimed LPs, collaborations with the likes of Kerri Chandler, Tom Misch, and a relentless tour diary.

‘House of House’ reflects the ethos that has defined our label since day one: a home for house heads who bring genuine soul to club music, whether they’re legendary originators or new-school up-and-comers. Heist’s one-hundredth release is more than just a number – it’s a testament to the community, creativity, and legacy we’ve built, release after release.

As always enjoy the music and play it loud.

Much love, Heist HQ

First Word Records is extremely proud to welcome back Kaidi Tatham, with a brand new 12-track album entitled 'Don't Rush The Process'.

This is Kaidi's 4th solo album under his own name, following on from 'An Insight To All Minds' (2021), 'It's A World Before You' (2018), and 'In Search Of Hope' (re-pressed in 2020), all released on First Word, along with several EPs from 2017 onwards.

To bring you up to speed, Kaidi Tatham is a legendary multi-instrumentalist born in the Midlands and based in Belfast. Once dubbed "the UK's Herbie Hancock" by Benji B, he's a virtuoso on the keys and a true innovator in sound production as one of the original creators of the Broken Beat sound. Over the years his musical prowess has blessed numerous projects, recently with the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff, Andrew Ashong and with longtime accomplice, Dego. This in addition to session and remix work for artists such as Mulatu Astatke, Slum Village, Marcos Valle, Amy Winehouse, Soul II Soul, Nubya Garcia, Rosie Frater-Taylor and Leroy Burgess, along with First Word label mates Eric Lau, Children of Zeus, Allysha Joy and Darkhouse Family. Kaidi is also a revered DJ known for rocking parties globally, whilst his solo catalogue spans tons of EPs and releases for labels such as Dego's 2000 Black, Alex Nut's Eglo Records and Theo Parrish's Sound Signature.

This new album 'Don't Rush The Process' opens with an intro of sweet strings on 'Mystery Solved', ahead of lead title track, which is on a mid-tempo boom bap vibe, before switching to a more uptempo boogie vein, with the assistance of The Easy Access Orchestra, who also appear on 'We Chillin' Out', which is on a similar boogie tip. 'All I Need' is some gospel flavoured hip hop, whilst 'Knocknee Donkey' steps things up in a jazz-funk fashion. The second half of the album takes on a very Brazilian flavoured stance, with a set of delicious latin flavoured grooves on 'Any Flavour', 'Runnin' Tru', 'What A Dream' and 'Sooretama', the latter featuring the additional prowess of pianist Robert Mitchell. There's a touch more of the hip hop beats thrown in via 'Funky Fool' and the album closes out in inimitable Kaidi style with a short message: 'Mind Yourself'.

A hugely prolific artist, here he adds to an already impressive catalogue, a body of work that falls within the cracks of jazz and dance music, exemplifying modern British black brilliance; uncompromising, innovative, groundbreaking, intricately sophisticated and deeply funky. His fanbase expands on every release and it's no surprise that that fanbase includes a diverse set of peers such as Madlib ("ahead of his time"), Gilles Peterson ("a key part of an entire movement"), K15 ("a limitless source of inspiration") and Kyle Hall.

'Don't Rush The Process' is released on vinyl & digital worldwide, July 2022 via First Word Records.

White Vinyl

The fringes of the desert have a way of changing a man, but the high-altitude chill of the Sierras will strip him down to his soul.

Following the gritty, neon-soaked introduction of his debut, Red Leather returns with his sophomore studio album, TAHOE. If his first record was a desperate sprint through the dark alleys of the soul, TAHOE is the cold morning after—a cinematic, sweeping exploration of isolation, clarity, and the jagged edges of recovery.

Named after the alpine lake that serves as both a sanctuary and a graveyard for secrets, the album navigates the duality of the landscape.

The songwriting dives deep into the "blue" period of his life—tackling themes of sobriety, the weight of sudden fame, and the ghosts of past versions of himself. It is an album about the silence that follows the storm, and the realization that the higher you climb, the thinner the air becomes.

After years out of print, we are pleased to present this much-needed vinyl reissue of an essential album in Roy Ayers’ career. Pressed on 180g vinyl.



In the early 1970s, Roy Ayers formed his own band: Roy Ayers Ubiquity. Its lineup included artists well known to funk and soul fans such as Bernard Purdie, James Mason, and Edwin Birdsong.



This 1973 album presents Roy Ayers in the midst of a creative evolution toward a sound increasingly influenced by soul and funk, moving beyond the early phase of his musical career, which was more rooted in orthodox jazz.

On “Red Black & Green”, he teams up with highly accomplished collaborators such as keyboardist Harry Whitaker, arranger and producer William S. Fischer, and Strata-East musicians Charles Tolliver and Sonny Fortune. Here, however, the latter two do not venture into the spiritual jazz sounds so characteristic of their own recordings; instead, together they embrace a sophisticated funk groove where Ayers showcases his extraordinary vibraphone talent.

The album includes outstanding versions of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ and ‘Day Dreaming,’ as well as original compositions such as ‘Cocoa Butter,’ ‘Rhythms of Your Mind,’ and the superb title track, ‘Red Black & Green.’

East London producer and DJ IZCO announces his debut solo studio album ‘POWERSCROFT’, set for release on 1st May via Brownswood Recordings. The album’s first single, ‘Strike a Pose’ featuring the vocals of Camille Munn offers an early glimpse into the project. To celebrate the release, he will go on a run of UK dates from March to May, culminating at London’s Jazz Cafe.
Named after the road where he grew up, ‘POWERSCROFT’ marks a defining new chapter for an artist who has spent the past decade shaping the sound of UK dance music. Drawing from jungle, broken beat, grime, garage, soul and dub, the album channels the energy of the dancefloor while remaining deeply rooted in memory, instinct and identity. It captures what it feels like to be inside IZCO’s world, where thoughts, memories and influences collide.

Hailing from East London, IZCO is a producer and DJ spearheading a new generation that is bringing soul back to the dancefloor. Shaped by the rich musical heritage of his hometown, he has developed a sound that feels familiar yet forward-looking, diverse yet distinctly his own. That sound has taken him across the globe, from New York to Tokyo, alongside standout sets at We Out Here, Outlook and Glastonbury.

IZCO began his journey making grime beats for local rappers including Capo Lee, Novelist and Reek0, before becoming a key figure in the UK’s evolving garage and dance music landscape. In 2018, he launched his long-running Rinse FM show and released his debut EP Tek 5, earning early underground acclaim. His production credits include PinkPantheress’ breakout track ‘Passion’, created alongside Jkarri, as well as collaborations and remixes for artists such as Katy B and Greentea Peng.
Beyond his solo work, IZCO is a label head, promoter and co-founder of the Brighter Days Family, a collective built on community, craft and cooperation. With ‘POWERSCROFT’, he steps fully into the spotlight, presenting his most personal and fully realised body of work to date. “This album is about channeling my true musical personality and character,” he says. “I’m marking a new chapter by paying tribute to my foundations.”

LAURA GREENE, from Cleveland, Ohio, has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. She started out as stage actress before becoming a singer in the lucrative TV and radio jingle business. She has also modelled for many press campaigns and regularly appeared on TV chat shows. In 1968 she had a role in the film For Love Of Ivy with Sidney Poitier and a year later co-starred in the satire Putney Swope directed by Robert Downey Sr. It seems fitting that her 1967 non-hit 'Moonlight Music And You' finally found commercial success in 2003 when featured on a KFC TV advert. PEGGY MARCH was born Margaret Annemarie Battavio in 1948 and, although having a prolific recording career, is rememberred mainly for her million-selling 'I Will Follow Him'. Here we feature her Northern Soul waxing for RCA in 1968 that packed the dance floor at Wigan Casino a decade later!

Ten years ago, Anderson .Paak didn't just release an album; he staged a full-scale takeover of the soul and hip-hop landscape. Released on January 15, 2016, Malibu served as the definitive arrival of an artist who had spent years grinding in the underground before a star-making turn on Dr. Dre’s Compton. While his previous work hinted at his potential, Malibu was the moment the world met the "Cheeky Andy" persona in full—a virtuosic drummer, a raspy-voiced crooner, and a sharp-witted rapper all rolled into one. The album is a sprawling, sun-drenched journey through the Southern California coast, blending 1970s funk, church-reared gospel, and gritty boom-bap into something that feels both nostalgic and entirely futuristic. With a heavyweight production lineup including 9th Wonder, Madlib, Kaytranada, and Hi-Tek, the record maintains a warm, analog texture that was a breath of fresh air in an increasingly digital era. It’s an album that breathes, full of intentional imperfections and the kind of "in-the-pocket" groove that can only come from a seasoned live performer. Beyond the infectious, dance-floor-ready energy of tracks like "Am I Wrong" and "Come Down," the album is a deeply autobiographical masterwork. .Paak uses the 65-minute runtime to unpack his life story with startling clarity, touching on his mother’s gambling addiction, his father’s incarceration, and his own brushes with homelessness with a sense of resilience that never feels heavy-handed. He weaves these heavy themes through a lens of triumph, grounded by vintage surfing documentary samples that give the project its cinematic, coastal atmosphere. It’s a celebratory record born out of struggle, anchored by his impeccable technicality on the drums and a guest list—featuring ScHoolboy Q, Rapsody, and The Game—that feels hand-picked to complement his specific brand of West Coast swagger. A decade later, Malibu stands as a modern classic and the blueprint for the soulful revivalism that would eventually lead .Paak to global superstardom and Grammy-winning heights. It remains a testament to the idea that the most profound music often comes from the most personal places, proving ten years on that the best way to move forward is to stay rooted in the groove.

After standout collaborations with Christophe Honoré and Bertrand Mandico, Calypso has signed with Pop Noire for the original soundtrack of Caroline Deruas’ film Les Immortelles. She unveils her new single, L’Homme Poisson, a gem of magnetic pop. With this ultra-catchy track, she reinvents 70s synth-pop with her signature poetry—both modern and timeless.


With Les Immortelles, Calypso Valois does more than accompany the film: she becomes its sonic soul. Each track—from enchanting choruses to rich instrumentation (piano, synths, strings, brass)—immerses the listener in a dreamlike universe, where music weaves the emotional thread. A singular cinematic experience, infused with mystery and magic. Whether you’re a fan of sophisticated pop, evocative soundtracks, or simply seeking an enchanting musical journey, this album transcends the boundaries of genre and era.
The film opened the Venice Film Festival and continues to make waves at festivals before its release a on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

"Die ""big voice"" aus Flint, Michigan, die uns den Smash-Hit „Norma Jean“ bescherte meldet sich kraftvoll mit „It’s so Hard“ zurück. „It’s so Hard“ ist eine tiefgründige, gefühlvolle Beat-Ballade mit einer Botschaft, die eine Geschichte erzählt, die wir leider nur zu gut kennen – die Geschichte zweier vielversprechender junger Menschen, deren Leben ein jähes Ende findet, als sie ungewollt in die Welt der Gaunereien, Drogen und Waffen geraten, die sie umgibt. Gestärkt durch eine unverkennbare Detroit-Härte nimmt dich der Track mit auf eine Reise quer durch das Land und verbindet den coolen East-Coast-Swagger der Isleys aus der T-Neck-Ära mit dem entspannten Groove, den die WC-Lowrider-Soul-Szene so liebt. Ein unverfälschter Ausdruck der Gewalt, die viel zu viele junge Menschen ertragen müssen.

Much like the duo’s music, the story of Rural France is both mundane and magical. Tom Brown (also of transatlantic janglepunks Teenage Tom Petties) and Rob Fawkes moved to London in their mid-twenties. Despite living under the same roof, they never picked up a guitar – except for one drunken, failed attempt at writing a Spoon song (“Big Chops” …don’t ask). It was only after both separately relocating to Wiltshire and starting families that they began assembling songs as a way of meeting up. Tom had amassed a pile of sprightly slacker jams that were calling out for Fawkes’ messily melodic guitar lines. Rural France was born.

After a debut album on their hero, ex-Lemonhead Nic Dalton’s Half-a-Cow Records, they retreated to a garage to record their next two albums: RF (2021) and Exacamondo! (2024), both released on much-respected jangle label Meritorio Records. Despite being lo-fi in the truest GbV sense, both records were warmly received by the DIY indie blogosphere, with their short, scrappy, but supremely melodic songs landing on numerous AOTY lists. RF even won Album of the Year at Janglepop Hub.

Raven Sings The Blues probably summed up the sound best: “With drunken visions of Beach Boys harmonies playing in the back of their heads and hooks that consume Teenage Fanclub cheeriness with the same beautiful brevity that drives Tony Molina, the pair have knocked out eleven rumpled classics.” Album four, SLOTHS, arrives via Meritorio Records and Safe Suburban Home Records on 08/05, and is a slightly different beast. For one, it’s been mixed by a professional – Rob Slater (Westside Cowboy, Yard Act, Thank) – giving the guitars and drums room to breathe. It’s easily their most high-fidelity record to date. It’s also their jangliest, most baroque and thoughtful album yet. But alongside added organ, horns and mellotron – and drums from Tom’s Teenage Tom Petties bandmate Jeff Hamm – it still retains the buzzes, hums and little freak-outs that stick to the duo’s original “Pavement playing Teenage Fanclub” mission statement. “Rob and I both wanted to do something a little slower and a little more melancholy,” says Tom. “We resisted our usual urge to hit the distortion pedal and made something that fitted where we are now and celebrates how we still listen to Meatloaf when we get drunk.”

SLOTHS is also the most thematically consistent Rural France record to date. While it wouldn’t be right to call it grown-up, it definitely has homeowners’ insurance. From the Silver Jews-esque Americana of “Slab” and mid-life rallying cry of “Thirty Seven Forever”, to the horn-embossed loser anthem “Lonely Heart Pyramid Scheme,” the songs celebrate (and rail against) the absurdities of getting older, forming a band in your thirties, and the strange phenomenon of time passing. Because no matter how slow you move, everything else goes fast. SLOTHS.

By the end of the 1980s, R&B and soul were very much a part of pop culture. However, it was the UK group The Pasadenas who paid the most honest homage to the origins of these genres, with their music drawing on 1950s doo-wop, 1960s Motown and 1970s funk and R&B. The single “Enchanted Lady”, for example, was an ode to Smokey Robinson and could easily have been mistaken for the real thing.

Now their debut album To Whom It May Concern is finally back in stock for the first time on coloured vinyl. The album's biggest hit was "Tribute (Right On)", which took Europe by storm in the summer of 1988. The album was also a huge success, selling over a million copies.

To Whom It May Concern is available as a limited edition on red vinyl and includes an insert.

Ultra Clear Vinyl. ‘*FLUTTERS AWAY*’ follows last year's debut EP, ‘Handwriting Practice No. 1’, which established Operelly as one of the most exciting new voices in music. Thupcoming EP tells the story of a relationship breaking down
amidst miscommunication. Delicate electro-acoustic arrangements (dubbed "tiptoe music" by Operelly) intersperse
with the static sounds of radio interference, as if the interrupted communication recounted in the lyrics has punctured the songs
themselves. Operelly executive produced the entire record and mixed four of the five songs. Additional production work was provided by Hudson Pollock, Al Carlson, Stephen Willard, and Kali Flanagan. Cover art was designed by Leo Horton in collaboration with Operelly. The music video for "under my bed" was directed and shot by Sarah Elise Bauman

Ronnie Davis is another mighty Jamaican singer, whose talents have been greatly overlooked. His rootsy yet soulful voice have been in demand by many of Jamaica's producers, and have graced their catalogues over the decades, yet outside of the close reggae circles he has remained a closely guarded secret.

Born Ronnie Davis, in 1950 (Savannah La Mar, Jamaica). His singing career began in the 1960's and like many aspiring young singers, the Talent contests taking part around the Island, was his first introduction to the music scene. This led to him joining the vocal group, 'The Tenors'.  Who shortly after his arrival, released their debut 'The Whole World is a Stage'. This was the beginning of a run of Jamaican 7'' releases that did quite well in the domestic marketplace. But Ronnie had set his sights on a solo career,which came to fruition in the early 1970's, with two big hits for him in the guise of 'Won't You Come Home' and 'Stop Yu Loofing'. Running on through to the mid 1970's with such hits as 'Jah Jah Jehovah','Forget Me Now', 'On and On' and 'Babylon Falling'. Building up to the 1976 classic, 'It's Raining'.

Around this time Ronnie's path would cross with Keith Porter and with his childhood friend Roy Smith they would form one of Jamaica's foremost vocal groups 'The Itals'.  A group who would run until the 1990's and evolve into 'Ronnie Davis and Idren'. Ronnie's releases are very sort after among the reggae aficionados and any tune carrying his vocal talents rarely
disappoint. We have compiled some rare roots dubs to many of his finest cuts. Such gems as 'Chasing You', 'What You See is What You Get', his take on the timeless cut 'Tribal War', 'Tell You' and the a fore mentioned smash 'It's Raining'. A version of Gregory Issac's 'Love Overdue' is also present. Ronnie cut an album worth of material with Mr Issac's, testimony surely to Mr Davis's standing in the Reggae community.

Let’s hope that this release spreads the gospel according to Mr R. Davis, a little wider.  A wicked set by one of Jamaica's finest .....

Respect Jah Floyd.

Tudo is an album by world renowned Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Bebel Gilberto, originally released in 2014.

Gilberto, daughter of bossa nova immortal João Gilberto, is one of the most internationally famous and beloved of Brazilian musicians. Tudo, which means "everything" in English, showcases Bebel's ethereal vocals and wistful, dreamy song writing in each of the 12 tracks.
Bebel reunites with Mario Caldato Jr., who produced her first landmark album Tanto Tempo.

With Bebel singing in French, English, and Portuguese, Tudo is a shimmering, sweet summery collection that includes original songs along with songs by João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Neil Young, as well as soulful duet with Seu Jorge.

The gorgeous melodies are shaped by touches of electronica and Bebel's intimate vocals hint at a fantastical Rio de Janeiro, a style that has earned her a devoted fanbase worldwide.

Tudo is available on black vinyl and includes a 4-page booklet with pictures and lyrics.

Gregory Porters zweites Blue-Note-Werk erschien 2016 und wurde mit dem Grammy als bestes JazzGesangsalbum ausgezeichnet. Die eingängigen Songs mixen Jazz, Soul, Gospel und Funk und gehören noch
immer zu seinen beliebtesten, die Texte verbinden Persönliches mit Politischem und sind heute genauso
relevant wie vor zehn Jahren.
Zum Jubiläum erscheint ”Take Me To The Alley” jetzt als ”10th Anniversary Edition” in Form einer
limitierten farbigen Doppel-LP. Als Bonus-Track ist der 2026 veröffentlichte Rules-Remix von “Holding
On“ dabei, mit dem der britische Produzent zusammen mit Gregory Porter einen großen Streaming-Erfolg
feierte.

Marcos Valle is one of those artists you simply can’t overlook if you have even a passing interest in Brazilian music. Whether your taste leans toward bossa jazz, samba, psychedelic folk, or modern soul, Valle has surely recorded a great album for you.

By the late 1960s he had already released enough outstanding records to secure a place among the greatest Brazilian artists of all time, but fortunately his career didn’t stop there. He has continued recording fabulous albums over the following decades, right up to the present day.

This second album by Marcos Valle (1965) is one of the foundational works of bossa nova. In fact, the record includes one of the most widely heard and covered Brazilian songs in history: ‘Samba de Verão.’ In addition to his work as a composer—alongside his brother Paulo Sergio—Marcos Valle also begins to reveal himself here as a great singer, with a soft, almost fragile voice, while his acoustic guitar recreates the same intimacy of the nighttime atmosphere in which he composed most of the songs.

The arrangements were co-written with Eumir Deodato, with the participation of other renowned Brazilian musicians, and they surround Valle’s compositions with elegant string orchestrations, bossa rhythms, and jazzy touches of swing. Highlights include the sophisticated beauty of songs like ‘Preciso Aprender a Ser Só,’ the rhythmic 3/4 feel of tracks such as ‘Seu Encanto,’ and the powerful ‘Deus Brasileiro.’

First vinyl reissue in over 50 years!

Radiohop are a four-piece jazz / hip-hop band from Amsterdam, exploring the boundaries between groove, texture and improvisation. Hard to Handle is their second album and the first drop on Melting Pot Music. As the title suggests, Radiohop are going hard on this one.

Radiohop are Joshua Lutz (keys), Euan Jenkins (drums), Johnny Biner (guitar) and Joel Svedberg (bass). All four of them moved to Amsterdam around 2020 to study jazz and quickly plugged into the city’s bubbling scene.

Each band member plays an equal role in shaping the music as a single organism, emphasising feeling and atmosphere rather than ego or individual spotlight.

The compositions arise from experimentation, intuitive collaboration and deep listening, an approach that has as much to do with their backgrounds as improvisers and beat-makers as it does with their roots in jazz.

Radiohop have performed as the rhythm section for artists like Soul Supreme and Juju Rogers. Beat-heads might be familiar with Joshua’s solo project, Halfpastseven, which has collaborated with FloFilz and Jake Milliner

Boogiemonsters were an American hip hop group composed of Bronx‑born rapper Mondo McCann, Alaskan native Vex Da Vortex (Sean Pollard), and Jamaican‑born brothers Myntric (Sean Myers) and Yodared (Ivor “Al” Myers). The members met while attending Virginia State University, quickly connected, and began recording demos and performing at campus events. Their early momentum led them to win first place at Howard University’s Hip‑Hop Convention.

Pendulum/EMI record label signed the four MCs and released their debut album Riders Of The Storm: The Underwater Album in 1994. The first single, “Recognized Thresholds of Negative Stress,” introduced their thoughtful, alternative approach to hip hop. It was followed by “Honeydips in Gotham,” a smooth tribute to the fly sistas of the city, and “Strange,” built around a slick Cameo sample. Another standout track, “Salt Water Taffy (Slo Jam),” is noted as one of the earliest non‑Roots session appearances by future producer Scott Storch.

Riders Of the Storm: The Underwater Album delivers a focused blend of rugged beats, sharp lyricism, and atmospheric production that stands apart in the 90s hip hop landscape. Its mix of conscious themes and deep grooves makes it essential for fans of underground hip hop. The album’s mellow, funky, alternative sound sits comfortably alongside groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, giving it a timeless place in the era’s most creative and forward‑thinking releases.

In recent years, Midge Ure has spent his time playing live and not has time to fully immerse himself in the studios creating music To that end A Man of Two Worlds is his first album of new material in 12 years. Well worth the wait, the album is a formidable collection of outstanding music, divided into two clear parts.

The first half, World One: Music, consists of eight instrumental pieces, while the second half, World Two: Songs, features eight vocal songs. This concept was partly inspired by the time Midge spent during lockdown listening to instrumental music whilst presenting THE SPACE on Scala Radio. Hearing music that rarely finds a home on mainstream radio, he set about making something without lyrics, where the melodies had to speak for themselves. The eight vocal songs which form the second part of the album, came to Midge as the world reopened. A more divided world, in many ways a much harder and less empathetic one. Sharing an atmosphere with the preceding instrumentals, these songs are incredibly sparse and meditative, and whilst they are subtle, with some songs dealing with the frailty of the human condition, underlying many songs reflect Midge's concerns for the discord infecting world today.

As lead singer Steve Harris says "We're a band from the South and we play music that comes from the South". Originally formed in 2011, the band has been steadily building a global fanbase through successful songs at rock radio, backed up by constant touring in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. Influenced by classic rock legends like Bad Company, Free, and ZZ Top, along with soul and American roots music, A La Mode is their debut album for Quarto Valley Records.

PMF007 has landed

We are honoured to welcome veteran artist Dennis Walks to the Poor Man’s Friend label. Having cut his teeth with Duke Reid in the mid to late 1960s, Dennis Walks has been recording consistently for over 60 years.

Best known for his massive hits “Drifter,” “Heart Don’t Leap,” and “Margaret,” alongside the great The Mudies, Dennis brings a smooth yet powerful voice rooted in R&B and doo-wop influences. Combined with his intricate and thoughtful songwriting, he remains one of our favourite artists from the rocksteady and early reggae era.

“What A Pressure” is a vibrant, horn-led early roots reggae cut that captures the raw spirit and sonic identity of Jamaica’s foundational studio era. Driven by an upbeat tempo and undeniable energy, the track is elevated by rich, full-bodied backing vocals that perfectly frame Dennis Walks’s unmistakable voice. His delivery carries a weight of experience, bringing to life a set of beautifully constructed conscious lyrics that speak with both urgency and soul.

At its core, the production is propelled by a deep, rolling bassline that locks tightly with a heavily saturated rhythm section, creating a warm, analog feel reminiscent of classic recordings from Kingston’s golden age. The horns cut through with authority, adding brightness and drive, while the overall arrangement maintains a tight, authentic groove.

The Spoiled is an Italian post-punk project led by Giovanni Santolla, blending electronic beats, distorted synths, and reverb-soaked guitars into a dark, romantic, and nostalgic sound.

In 2024, the project self-released the debut EP Time distributed by Manic Depression, followed in 2025 by the full-length Living Ghosts via Swiss Dark Nights—an album that firmly established The Spoiled within the contemporary post-punk scene. Following the album’s release, Giovanni collaborated with international acts including This Eternal Decay, Darkways, Corlyx, Chaos International, and Hinfort, while maintaining a dense touring schedule across Europe and sharing the stage with artists such as Traitrs, Hinfort, Darkways, and Ductape.

The new album When It Rains, set for release on Avant! Records on April 17, 2026, expands The Spoiled’s artistic vision with a focus on intense, romantic soundscapes that delve deeply into human intimacy and interpersonal relationships. Embracing a warmer and more personal sonic direction, the record blends elements of indie rock and electrogaze music that enrich and revitalize the dark, melancholic palette that has defined the project’s earlier works.

Still playing homage to the forefathers of the genre such as Clan of Xymox, The Sound and Pink Turns Blue, When It Rains opens the path of The Spoiled to new soundscapes, exploring broader emotional territories while preserving the atmospheric depth and introspective tone that have become its signature.

FFO: Twin Tribes, Clan of Xymox, She Past Away, Mareux, The Soft Moon, Pink Turns Blue.

Kicking off the collection, we have POISON IDEA performing their first ever gig as a high-velocity punk band on New Years Eve 1980 – truly an incredible find. “We put our gear in shopping carts and pushed it to the venue” Jerry recalls as well as the reaction from Portland’s first wave of hardcore kids, “They only had 30 seconds in a song to throw each other around and pogo, so they’d go for it. It came naturally, like the music possessed them”. The embryonic versions presented here of future POISON IDEA classics like “Give It Up” and “Castration” are played in a more quirky and herky-jerky manner than how they would appear three years later on their debut seven-inch EP, Pick Your King. This recording also holds the most unfiltered display of Germs vocalist Darby Crash’s influence on Jerry. “His voice gave me the license to go” states Jerry. “You didn’t have to be a trained singer. Just open up your soul and scream”.

The remainder of this release is culled from a recording done in June of 1981 at a birthday party for Kim Kincaid, vocalist for local punk group, Neo Boys. The event was held at the short-lived but groundbreaking punk venue for Portland, Clockwork Joe’s. “Clockwork Joe’s was like Peter Pan’s island of lost boys” Lang recollects, “There was a lot of booze, a lot of drugs and a lot of young kids”. Hearing this ferocious, tightly-wound set, one can only imagine the sweaty debauchery that occurred that night, especially during the pounding rendition of “Underage” presented here, yet another future Pick Your King track.

Tha God Fahim's timeless creative instincts have been evident from the moment his art began to circulate. Emerging unexpectedly from the epicenter of trap music, the Atlanta emcee quickly distinguished himself with sharp wordplay and atmospheric production that couldn't be further from the monotonous sounds echoing Around Him. With Just A Few Projects To His Name, Tha God Fahim Was Still A Hungry Young Talent On The Rise when he unleashed Tha Dark Shogunn Saga in late 2016. Among his most memorable early releases, the album kicked off an unprecedented creative explosion, as Fahim cemented his status with more than 50 projects released over the next two years. Followed by an equally compelling sequel released just a few
months later, the overall saga became an important moment in Tha God Fahim's rise, evoking shadowy street corners and smoke-filled hallways. Nearly a decade later, Fahim is expanding this series into a full trilogy with Tha Dark Shogunn Saga, Vol. 3. Reviving the unmistakable vibe of the original projects, the new collection finds our hero back in warrior mode, sharpening his lyrical blade over rich production from Cookin Soul, Nicholas Craven, Fortes, and Fahim himself.